Of course not because their seasons are not even close in terms of who is better and its Roy by a long shot. I also think that only the top 5 players in the NBA (LeBron, Wade, Paul, Kobe, Howard) are superstars. But B-Roy has been the 6th best player in the NBA this year according to stats, being selected to the all-star game and team record in the West! The ESPN article that said Roy is the 7th best player in the league was right on, but I think he is having a better year than Tim Duncan this year (and Hollinger's new stat reflects that as well). Its also funny that Roy is only 24 years old... I can't wait for him to hit his prime. Anyway, what our team is missing is a PG. I also agree that our future dynasty is extremely dependant on Greg Oden's development... but i'm more confident than ever that he will develop into a beast. To be honest, you put Greg on that Orlando team Dwight had his rookie year, give him Dwight's minutes and lets say he doesn't have foul problems, he is more productive than Howard his rookie year. But Greg is wayyy more scrutinized in the public eye than Howard was. Edit - come on though, don't argue with JE. He is the guy who said that Devin Harris is better than Roy and that NJ would never trade Harris for Roy (even though Roy is better AND younger... lol). He has a thing against Roy and the Blazers and is probably more bias than us. You can't take him TOO seriously, though sometimes he makes good points.
Meh, he's just trying to be a contrarian and nice to the local folks in OKC. He sniffs Kobe's jock more than Basel57; I don't take his analysis seriously. People need to recognize the difference between scoop-getters and analysts. Bucher is the first; he's not the second.
like i said yesteray... hope OKC doesnt get Griffin. If they do.... bucher might be right. Roy Oden Aldridge Rudy OR Durant Green Westbrook Griffin (likely thatbeet) JUST HOPE OKC doesnt win the lotto. Then we are in trouble. Blake will be the first pick.
With or without Blake Griffin, they will not be better than us. They made a gigantic mistake in the 07 draft taking Green with Durant who play the exact same position, now Green plays an undersized 4 and where would Blake play, the 5? Shit, Greg would eat him alive. And that right there is the x-factor. In the upcoming years, it will be Greg and Dwight as the lone centers in the league. If Greg stays healthy. he separates us from the pack. His potential is higher than Durant.
I think a better comparison for OKC is the Bulls from a few years ago. Great young perimeter players but no big men. If they don't win the Griffin sweepstakes or convince a good PF/C to sign with them this summer I don't think they will go very far. However if they can get a good PF/C they will be a force.
It isn't just the current OKC roster you need to consider. They have a ton of cap space and several extra 1st round picks they acquired in trade. Over the next couple of years, the Blazers will be lucky to add one good vet. Our "core" is largely in place. OKC can add a good vet AND several good young players. Their talent pool is still growing. It isn't as if Wally Walker is still running the show there! It isn't safe to just assume they will piss away their opportunity.
We have a coach with NBA experience and is doing well with his roster. 2nd Youngest in the League Richest owner in the league Great fan base Cap Space and Flexibility for trades for vets. System in Place Borderline Elite player in Roy...definitely a superstar. Right now, Aldridge = Durant...and Aldridge is getting better and better too...so he can keep up with KD....Roy is just above Durant in everything....while Durant is a great offensive player, what else. Roy > Thunder LMA = Durant Then we have ODEN, RUDY, BATUM...each of which can just dominate at their given positions in the future....Rudy will be a consummate 6th man..Batum is a defensive stud with an offensive game developing and Oden is getting better once he learns the game he is dangerous. Its not even a competition...the Thunder will be lucky to make the playoffs in the next 5 years and even luckier if they happen to keep Durant. They are going to be more Memphis Grizzlies than Portland Trailblazers in teh future. Rich Bucher is a fucking moron. We are much more stable than that joke of a franchise.
LMA is not = Durant. He might be playing as well as him this month, but his value isn't near Durant's.
He's entitled to his opinion and I think OKC has some great pieces that could be pretty good in the future. However, I like our owner, GM, coach, supporting cast, and the intagibles that our core guys have more than OKC. And I think our big-3 has more balance, height, and defensive ability. I could be wrong. But I had to laugh though when Bucher actually brought up chemistry as part of his argument. I mean, whaa....? And I agree, if Roy isn't a superstar, then neither is Durant, and so the entire article is pointless. Of course. But we shouldn't just consider Portland to be done either. Beyond Roy, Aldridge, & Oden (rookie), Portland has Joel, Batum (rookie), Rudy (rookie), Webster, Outlaw, Blake, & Bayless (rookie). Portland has picks, trade exceptions, an owner who isn't afraid to spend money, and an extremely aggressive, creative, and intelligent front office. And a coach that the team has improved steadily under for 4 straight years. I just don't think we've plateaued yet either...
I'm curious to see what kind of free agent drawing power OKC has. I don't see a lot of top level free agents (or vets looking for a ring) lining up to play in Milwaukee or Memphis and OKC is a smaller market than both of those cities. If they can keep their core together, I think they have a promising future. However, I think getting Durant to re-sign could pose a problem.
